** This NEW SHUTTLENWS report is presented by K&D GRAPHICS and the ORANGE COUNTY BADMINTON CLUB (Orange, California) **

U.S. NATIONALS: THE KEVIN-ATOR WINS U.S. TITLE AGAIN; TANG TAKES THREE

April 6, 1998 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Kevin "The Kevin-ator" Han retained his U.S. men's singles title yesterday, defeating Howard "High Jump" Bach 15-10, 15-9 in the finals of the 1998 K&D Graphics U.S. National Badminton Championships at the Orange County Badminton Club in the city of Orange, California. Han who is ranked among the top 25 men's singles players in the world used his wider repertoire of shots and his better all-court coverage to overcome the younger Bach's high-energy, high-jumping style.

In the women's singles final, Yeping Tang defeated 1997 champion Cindy Shi in two closely contested games 12-9 and 12-9 to take one of her three 1998 U.S. titles. Tang also won championships in the women's and and the mixed doubles events.

Tang and Cindy Shi walloped the European-based pair of Stefanie Westerman and Kathy Zimmerman 15-5 and 15-0 in the women's doubles final. In the mixed doubles championship match, Tang once again faced Cindy Shi across the net and once again came out the winner, as she and partner Andy Chong defeated Shi and Chibing Wu 15-6 and 15-4.

Andy Chong and 1992 Olympian Benny Lee took the men's doubles crown. Chong, a former Malaysian national team player, and Lee beat Howard Bach and Mark Manha 15-8, 9-15 and 15-10 in yesterday's final.

(montri/dsimmons)